Brake-handle.



No. 707,692. Patented Aug. 26, |902.

H w Gls BRAKE HANDLE.

(Application filed June 20,^ 1902.)

(No Model.)

Inl/enl'o: Howard WGL'bs,

PATENT OEEICE.

HOWTARD XV. GIBBS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'TO VILLIAM HALL d: CO., OF BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS, A FIRM.

BRAKE-HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,692, dated August 26, 1902.

Application tiled June 20.1902Y lb all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOWARD W. GIBBs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of iMassachusetls, have invented certain Improvements in Brake-Handles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to simplify ed to receive and embrace the upper end ofr the brake-staff, which is provided within said chamber with a transverse slot extending diametrically therethrough, in which is tted a horizontally-sliding pawl, the ends of which are adapted on the backward movement of the handle to be alternately brought into contact with the inclined faces of the ratchet-teeth, causing the opposite end of the pawl to be positively forced outward into a position to insure its engagement with the next ratchet-tooth in advance of the same to unyieldingly hold the handle in locking engagement with the brake-staff when moved in the required direction to set the brakes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the upper portion of a brake-staff and its handle constructed inK accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the vertically-divided nut which closes the open end of the handle-chamber and holds together the handle and brake-staff. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sliding pawl, with the upper end of the brake-stad shown in dotted lines.

In the said drawings, A represents a carbrake handle, preferably composed of brass and of the usual approved shape. Within the inner end or hub of this handle is formed a cylindrical chamber a, which is provided with a bushing b, of hardened steel, secured thereto by means of lugs or projections 10, fitting corresponding recesses l2 in the handle, or by casting it therein, or in any other Serial No. 112,546. (No model.)

lapproved manner, the inner wall of said bushing beingprovided with vertical ratchetteeth c, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Within this bushingis fitted to revolve therein the upper enlarged end 14 of the brake-staff C, immediately beneath which said brake-stall is embraced bya nut D, which is screwed into the open end of' the chamber a beneath the shoulder 15 and serves to closersaid 6o chamber against the entrance of dust and hold the handle in place upon the brake-staff. The upper end 16 of the brake-stad above the enlarged portion 14 rotates in an opening 17 at the upper end oi' the bushing, which forms 65 a bearing therefor. The nur D is preferably divided vertically into two equal portions,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, one portion being provided with a dowel-pin 18,\iitting a hole 19 in the other, so that when the nut is un- 7o screwed it can be readily removed without necessitating the disconnecting of the brakestaft when repairs are required. The enlarged portion 14 of the brake-staff C is provided directly above the nut D with a transverse slot d, extending diametrically therethrough, in which is fitted to slide horizontally therein a iat pawl e, the ends of which are beveled or rounded on opposite sides, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4,' to adapt thorn to slide 8o over the inclined faces ot' the ratchet-teeth c as they are alternately brought into contact therewith on the backward movement of the brake-handle, the sliding pawl being of such length that when either end is caused to pass over the inclined face ofa ratchet-tooth its opposite end will be positively forced outward from the brake-staff into aposition to insure its engagement with the rst ratchet-tooth in advance of the same, thus instantly bringing 9o the handle into locking engagement with the brake-stalf when moved in the proper direction to set the brakes. On the reverse or backward movement of the handle the opposite ends ofthe pawl will alternately `pass over the ratchet-teeth c, causing said pawl to slide horizontally within its slot alternately in opposite directions, so that one end or the other will always be in a position to catch the first ratchet-tooth in advance of the same ico when the direction of the movement of the handle is reversed, all liability of slipping or failure of the handle to be brought at once into locking engagement with the brake-staff being thereby absolutely avoided.

The above-described device by reason of the absence of all springs, pins, or screws possesses the advantages of simplicity, durability, and freedom from liability to get out of order.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-.-

l. A brake-operating device comprising a handle having a cylindrical chamber at its inner end provided with vertical ratchetteeth, a brake-stan having its upper end inclosed Within said chamber and provided therein with a transverse slot extending diametrically therethrough, and a horizontallysliding pawl fitted in said slot and adapted to be moved in opposite directions by the alternate contact of its opposite ends with-the inclined faces of said ratchet-teeth, whereby one or the other of the ends of said pawl will be always projected into a position to engage the ratchet-tooth next in advance of the same when the handle is moved in a direction to set the brakes.

2. In a brake-handle, the combination of a handle havingr a cylindrical chamber at its inner end, the inner Wall of Which' is provided with vertical ratchet-teeth, a brakestal having its upper end inclosed Within said chamber and provided therein with a transverse slot extending diametrically therethrough, and a horizontally-sliding pawl ttedwithin said slot and having its ends beveled on opposite sides, said ends being adapted robe alternately brought into contact with the inclined faces of said ratchet-teeth on the backward movement of the brake-handle, whereby when said handle is moved in a direction to set the brakes,one end or the other of said paw] will be projected laterally into a position to engage the first ratchet-tooth in advance of the same to bring the handle into locking engagement with the brake-staff, and means for holding together the said handle and brake-staff.

3. The combination of a brake-handle having a cylindrical chamber at its inner end and provided with ratchet-teeth, abrake-sta having its upper end inclosed Within said chamber and provided therein with a transverse slot extending diametrically therethrough, a horizontally-sliding pawl fitted in said slot and adapted to be moved in opposite directions by the alternate contact of its opposite ends with the inclined faces of the ratchetteeth on the inside of said chamber, and a vertically-divided nut embracing the brakestaff and screwed into the openend of the chamber in thel handle to hold together said handle and brake-staff.

4. The combination of a handle having a cylindrical chamber at its inner end, a hardmetal bushing Within the same provided with vertical ratchet-teeth, a brake-staff having at its upper end a portion of increased diameter inclosed Within said chamber and provided with a transverse slot extending diametrically therethrough, a horizontally-sliding pawl Iitted in said slot and adapted to be moved in opposite directions by the alternate contact of its opposite ends with the inclined faces of the ratchet-teeth, and a nut embracing the brake-staff beneath said enlarged portion and screwed into the open end of the chamber in the handle to hold together said handle and brake-staff.

Witness my hand this 16th day of June, A. D. 1902.

HOWARD W. GIBBS. In presence of- P. E. TESCHEMACHER, M. B. FAXON. 

